GUEST COLUMN: "Strengthening Ohio’s Campaign Finance Law"

St. Rep. Danny Bubp

By St. Rep. Danny Bubp

Election season is upon us, a time of widespread anticipation. In addition to this excitement, elections often spark a close examination of campaign finances. Candidates are under a microscope as the public judges their qualifications, political visions and personal ethics. We also look to see that organizations contributing to their campaigns are acting transparently. It is crucial that campaign finance laws properly regulate who may give and receive funds and how they are spent.

To this end, Governor Kasich recently signed into law House Bill 326, legislation that creates a criminal sanction for the use of public funds for political objectives. Tax dollars should not bankroll any sort of political activity during election time or otherwise, and any official who engages in such practice will be subject to a first-degree misdemeanor charge. This penalty is comparable to the sanction for other campaign finance law violations.

The language in House Bill 326 includes political action committees, political parties and campaign committees, among others, in its list of groups that officials are prohibited from funding with public money. All such groups have a hand in promoting certain political causes and candidates. While these activities are a legitimate part of the American election process, they should always be funded from private sources.

The money you pay to the government in taxes is to be used for public services that benefit our citizens. Your hard earned dollars were never meant to be spent for political purposes, and this legislation provides a further deterrent to illegally using these funds in campaigns. It is crucial that we hold the entire election process to high ethical standards, and for this reason, I chose to co-sponsor House Bill 326. I am happy to report that the majority of my colleagues in the state legislature feel the same, as the bill received wide bipartisan approval throughout the General Assembly.

Further strengthening Ohio’s campaign finance law will help to stamp out misuse of public funds during future election seasons. Campaign finance violations in Ohio have made the news in recent times, and it is my hope that, with House Bill 326, we can prevent similar situations and send the message that our government does not tolerate this unethical behavior.

Ohio House Sends Legislation to Strengthen Campaign Finance Law to the Governor

Release: <blockquote>

COLUMBUS—In an effort to institute greater accountability in campaign finance, the Ohio House of Representatives today concurred on Senate changes to Substitute House Bill 326, which imposes a criminal penalty on public officials who knowingly use public funds for political purposes.

 

This legislation—which was jointly sponsored by State Representatives Jeff McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) and Brian Hill (R-Zanesville)—institutes a penalty of a first-degree misdemeanor, similar to the penalty for other campaign finance law violations. According to current Ohio law, it is illegal to use tax dollars for political purposes but does not include a criminal penalty.

 

“House Bill 326 holds public officials accountable for abuse of public dollars and violation of Ohio’s campaign finance laws,” said Representative McClain. “I’m pleased that the Legislature worked cooperatively to pass this bill and help protect the public purse.”

 

“This is another example of the House’s efforts to put Ohioans first and ensure that our government is transparent and accountable,” Representative Hill said. “This is simply a policy of good government that serves the people, first and foremost.”

 

The need for House Bill 326 came to light after a recent audit of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) revealed that in 2007 and 2008, TARTA illegally loaned nearly $67,000 to Citizens for TARTA, the political action committee that gathers resources to fund TARTA levy campaigns.

 

Concurrence on Sub. H.B. 326 passed with strong bipartisan support and now awaits Governor Kasich’s signature.

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Ohio House Passes Legislation to Penalize Campaign Finance Violations

Release:

COLUMBUS—In an effort to institute greater accountability in campaign finance, the Ohio House of Representatives today voted to pass House Bill 326, which imposes a criminal penalty on public officials who knowingly use public funds for political purposes.

This legislation—which was jointly sponsored by State Representatives Jeff McClain (R-Upper Sandusky) and Brian Hill (R-Zanesville)—institutes a penalty of a first-degree misdemeanor, similar to the penalty for other campaign finance law violations. Currently, the Ohio Revised Code specifies that it is illegal to use tax dollars for political purposes but does not include a criminal penalty.

“This bill is very straightforward,” McClain said. “It simply protects taxpayer dollars and I am pleased with the strong bipartisan support it received.”

“Today, taxpayers are one step closer to ensuring public officials are held accountable in the court of law for the misuse of our tax money to fund campaigns,” Hill said. “An open, honest, transparent and fiscally-responsible government is what our communities demand and is what I will continue to fight for.”

The need for House Bill 326 came to light after a recent audit of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) revealed that in 2007 and 2008, TARTA illegally loaned nearly $67,000 to Citizens for TARTA, the political action committee that gathers resources to fund TARTA levy campaigns.

House Bill 326 passed by a vote of 90-2 and will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Money Talk

One of the things that I will never forgive Jon Husted for is hanging on to all that fat cash when he left the Ohio House for the Ohio Senate while we lost a few races that made the difference between Speaker Budish and Speaker Batchelder.  Would it really have made a difference?  Probably not, but we'll never know now will we?  It sure would have made it feel like Husted gave a kitty about the disaster he left behind in the rear view mirror...

Anyway...

I think it is about time we start talking about how if Rob Portman does trounce Lee Fisher like shooting fish in a barrell on E-Day and the bulk of the ticket crashes and burns, then maybe Rob might get some of the blame.  And if you are thinking similar thoughts about Josh Mandel, think again because I think that is still a tight(er) race than we think.

Rasmussen has Portman up like 20 points for goodness sakes.  And $6 million on hand...

I am not a campaign finance expert by any stretch of the imagination; so maybe this is impossible to fix now.  But if guys like Dave "I'm a Prosecutor, not a Politician" Yost go down in flames due to an imbalance in funds ("Little Orphan" David Pepper-Warbucks is gonna drop some serious coin to win) and we wind up losing the Apportionment Board (the most imprtant thing since "air" in this election cycle) won't somebody start looking at the guys who have all the cash (and yeah, Jon Husted, I'm STILL looking at you) and start asking questions?

Why is Rob Portman Giving Money to Mike DeWine?

I thought the idea behind the Ohio's Future PAC was about Ohio's future but I guess I was wrong.

Mike DeWine isn't Ohio's future.

Rob Portman ought to be ashamed of himself.

Exit Question: Dave Yost does represent Ohio's future, will Rob Portman do the right thing?

Treasonous Cap and Tax GOP 8 Are in Bed with Environmental Lobby

The Washington Examiner is on the case. The 8 RINOs who took money over country and voted for the Destruction of the American Economy with voting for Cap and tax stand revealed as nothing more than scumsucking money grubbing bootlickers to the enviro lobby.

House Republicans who received campaign donations from environmental groups helped make up the narrow margin of votes needed to send the Waxman-Markey “cap and trade” bill over to the U.S. Senate.

The legislation passed by a vote of just 219 to 212 on Friday with critical assistance from eight Republicans. They are: Mary Bono Mack (Calif.), Mike Castle (Del.), Mark Kirk (Ill.), Leonard Lance (N.J.), Frank LoBiondo (N.J.), John McHugh (N.Y.), Dave Reichert (Wash.), Chris Smith (N.J.). This support proved critical with 44 Democrats voting against the regulatory scheme.
Political Action Committees (PACs) connected with the League of Conservation Voters, the Sierra Club, Ocean Champions and Republicans for Environmental Protection have made donations to most of these same eight Republican lawmakers in recent election cycles, according to OpenSecrets.Org.
Rep. Kirk of Illinois, for instance, was among the top 20 recipients of PAC donations from environmental groups in the 2008 election cycle. He received $1,000 from the League of Conservation Voters (PAC), $4,000 from Ocean Champions (PAC) and $4,000 from Republicans for Environmental Protection (PAC). In this same cycle Republicans for Environmental Protection also donated $4,000 in PAC funds to Rep. Reichert.
The League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club have directed support toward the New Jersey Republicans who voted for the new regulations. Rep. LoBiondo received $1,020 from the League of Conservation Voters (PAC) in the 2008 election cycle and $2,010 from the Sierra Club (PAC) in the 2006 election cycle.
Rep. Lance, who first elected to Congress in 2008, has already received a donation from the League of Conservation Voters (PAC) for the 2010 election cycle in the amount of $250. Rep. Smith also received a $250 (PAC) donation from the League of Conservation Voters in the 2008 election cycle.
Rep. Mike Castle, the Delaware Republican, has also attracted support from these groups. The League of Conservation Voters (PAC) donated $750 in the 2008 election cycle and Republicans for Environmental Protection donated $1,000 in the 2006 election cycle.

These people put up suppressedsettled science over the economic impact of this disaster. They didn't even read the bill, because there was no bill to read. It is disgusting. But don't stop there, let's look at some other former RINO reps who received wacko money:

Among the top 20 recipients of PAC funds from green groups were former Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn.), who pulled in $9,519 in the 2008 election cycle, and Rep. Vernon Buchanan (R-Fla.) with $14,200. Only eight Republican votes were needed this time around but it would seem others remain pliable.

Makes me wonder if we delved into he who thinks he can be AG, Mike DeWine's, file, if we wouldn't see a bunch of environmental wacko money. After all, he based his decision on ANWR because his daughter made him promise not to harm the polar bears.....

David Pepper Refuses to Denounce Aide’s Unethical Behavior

Release:

The Blue Chip Young Republicans denounce County Commissioner David Pepper for refusing to condemn the unethical behavior committed by a member of his staff. Several months ago the Blue Chip Young Republicans discovered and exposed the campaign finance scheme of failed candidate Scott Gehring and his wife Jen Winkelman Gehring, an Aide to Commissioner Pepper, in which Mr. Gehring raised only $7400 during his brief candidacy and paid most of it to Winkelman for the stated purpose of “private consulting”.

These suspicious payments prompted then-Club President Jeff Capell to file a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against Gehring and Winkelman for converting campaign cash to personal use. Shortly before the first scheduled hearing, a settlement was reached which forced Winkelman to return the money to their campaign fund, which was then to be dispersed back to their donors and the local Republican Party. Those transactions have now been completed.

In December, Capell sent a letter to Commissioner Pepper asking him to join the club in a bi-partisan condemnation of this unethical behavior. Pepper never responded. Pepper’s refusal to condemn this conduct reeks of hypocrisy when compared to his previous statements.

When local blogger Nate Livingston compared Pepper to Adolph Hitler, Pepper demanded that his then-opponent Mark Mallory condemn Livingston for this behavior, even though Livingston did not work for Mallory or his campaign. Pepper’s campaign stated, “If Mallory is unwilling to rebuke one of his leading advocates for engaging in the worst kind of divisive politics, he’s clearly not a leader who can bring us together and move our City forward.”

“If David Pepper is unwilling to condemn his own employee for her blatantly unethical behavior, clearly he’s not a leader who this County can trust,” said former Club President Jeff Capell. “Pepper should be ashamed of himself for tolerating this conduct from his staff. What kind of political leader allows his employee to behave so poorly?”

The club is deeply disturbed by Commissioner Pepper’s transparent hypocrisy. In 2005 Pepper demanded that Mallory condemn a private citizen for his alleged misdeed. Less than four years later, however, Pepper refuses to condemn his own employee for her misdeed. Hypocrisy thy name is David A. Pepper.

The club is also concerned by the rumors that have Pepper running against Auditor Mary Taylor. How can David Pepper monitor Ohio’s finances when he can’t even monitor the behavior of his two-person staff?

Mary Taylor would CRUSH David Pepper...